Separable button



Jan. 31, 1933. H, GOLDBERG ET AL 1,895,984

' SEPARABLE BUTTON Filed Feb. 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2.

FIG. 5. FIG. 4

Hyman Goldberg 'HEITH Emldberg 41 g Q/ZM/W ATTORNEYS.

INVENTORS.

Jan. 31, 1933. I H, GOLDBER ET AL 1,895,984

SEPARABLE BUTTON Filed Feb. 18, 1952 2 Sneets -sheet 2 FIG.- 11. FIG. 12. D & WWW K I;

22 I 30 95 J \36 p 25 13? "IO! L 3 6 O 9 oo 9 12 99 I02 1 FIG. 1.4- |3 I32 $20 INVENTORS,

m an EJcfltfl E: 27% IEIEPPH Euzllclb ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 31, 1933 UNI ED STATES.

PATENT oF IcEfi HYMEN GOLDBERG AND HARRY GOLDBERG, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK SEPARABLE BUTTON Application filed February 18,1932. Serial No. 593,901.

This invention relates to improvements in buttons, and more particularly to separable buttons requiring 110 thread or the like to attach them.

An objectis to provide such a button havthreadsor similar material used in working the button hole. I

- Another object is to provide such a button with attaching means which press into both s'idesof the cloth or other material to which it isfattached and prevents that portion of the separable button passing through the hole formed in the material from working the hole larger. I

Still another object is to provide a separable button which is easy to attach to or detach from the cloth or other material with which it'is associated and which includes a button portion which is readily attached to or detached from the remainder of the separable button so that buttons having different designs or insignia on their faces may be readily substituted for the button portion removed and yet utilizing the remainder of the separable button.

button in which the button itself is free to swing about, as is desirable in buttoning and 'unbuttoning garments.

Stillanother object is to provide a separaable button which maybe attached and detached with ease by persons acquainted with the method but cannot be readily detached by unauthorized persons or work loose of its own accord.

Other objects and advantages of'this in- I vention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompangingdrawing's, forminga part of this speci in which drawings tion as the button.

Another object is to provide a separable.

showing the lever locked into place.

cation and v Figure 1 is a view partly in vertical secpreferred form of the separable Figure 2 is a view substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1. I y f Figure 3 is a topplan view of an outwardly facing base plate employed in the assembly of the separable button shown in Figures 1 and 2. I

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a comple- 3 mentary or inwardly facing base plate and skirted washer employed in the assembly of the separable buttonshown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of'a washer associated with the outwardly facing base plate and shown carrying a shank provided Figure 6 is a tool or device employed in attac mg the separable button shown in Figures 1, 2 and 7.

Figure 7 is a view partly in vertical section of a modified form ofseparable button. Figure 8 is a bottom plan View of the t e of outwardly facing base plate employe in the assembly of this modified form.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of a complementary or inwardly facing base plate and skirted washer employed in the assembly of the preferred and of this modified form;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of an anchor forming part of this modified form of separable button.

Figure 11 is a view partly in vertical section of a second modified form of'the'separable button.

Figure 12 is aplan view looking upon the modified form shown in F igure' 11 from the inner side of the material to which it is attached, illustrating how a lever employed in 190 the construction may be canted in ord'er to lock or unlock the same.

" Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12 Figure 14.- is a vertical section view through aninwardlyfacing bas'eplate employed in this second modified form, with a device for locking together the several parts of the separable button. 1

- Figure 15 is a side elevation of the inward-,-

ly facing base plate, with the lever shown in Figures 11 and 13 locked into place.

Figure 16 is a view 011 the line 16-16 of Figure 13.

Figure 17 is a view of a blank forming the lever shown in Figures 12 and 13.

Figure 18 is a view of a blank forming a locking tongue or detent employed in the device mentioned in connection with Figure 14.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown both preferred and modified forms of the invention, the letter A designates generally the preferred form of separable button shown in Figures 1 to 5, which includes a conventional button member B and coupling means C for securing the button member to a portion of material D, a tool E being provided to assist in the coupling and uncoupling of the several parts of the member B.

The separable button A may be such as is aiiixed to uniforms and the like.

The button member B includes a head or button proper 20 and a shank 21 provided with an eye 22 and is of conventional construction.

As for the coupling means C, this includes a pair of axially aligning outer and inner base plates 25 and 26. The outer base plate 25 is next to or faces the under surface of the head 20 and its outer or button facing surface 27 is preferably convex while the op- -posite or material facing surface 28 is preferably flat and its edge defines a circle. An

annular recess 29 extends into thebody of the base plate 25 from the surface 28 and from this recess an axial opening 30 continues to the surface 27. Extending radially from the opening 30 is a slot or way 31 which is preferably slightly smaller in width than the circumference of the opening 30 and the slot ends short of the edge of the base plate or at the wall of the recess 29 as shown in Figure 1. On either side of the slot 31 is a .groove 32 which is curved to accommodate the curved lower end of the shank 21 as shown in Figure 2. A washer 33 is accommodated in the recess 29 and is provided with an axial screw threaded opening 3 1 which of course aligns with the opening 30. The height of the washer 33 is such that its outer face will be flush with the surface 28 of the base plate.

A pair of slots 34 cut into the periphery of the washer are provided to permit the insertion of a tool (later described) to manipulate the washer.

The opposite or inner base plate 26 preferably includes two parts,a base plate prop- "er 35 and a skirted washer 36. The base ,plateproper has preferably an outer convex surface 27 while the inner or material facing surface 38 is stepped so that a central'flange 39 is provided at the base of which is a surface iOparallelingithe top ofthe flange and extending to the edge of the base plate proper. Through the base plate extends an axial opening 41 provided with a plurality of projections 42 such as are formed by screw threads. About the flange 39 is the washer 36 having a depending skirt portion 4 1 of light weight metal adapted to be bent over the convex surface of the base plate proper, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. It will be noted that when in place as shown in these figures, the circumference ofthe inner face of the assembled parts 35 and 36 is substantially equal to the face 28. that the height of the washer 36 is slightly more than the height of the flange 39 and that the skirt portion 14 does not cover the whole convex surface of the base plate proper. A pair of sockets 45 in the convex surface are provided for a purpose later described.

A shank member preferably shaped like an inverted J is provided, with its shank portion 51 provided with a plurality of spaced apart recesses 52 such as would be produced by screw threads. This shank is adapted to detachably carry the two base. plates 25 and 26. The crook or oflset portion 53 of the shank member 50 may be reduced in diameter over the shank portion 51. The crook portion 53 is accommodated within the opening 30 and slot or Way 31 so that a hook may be formed as shown in Figure 1. When the crook portion is inserted in the eye 21 of the shank 20 and the latter drawn towards The material D to which the separable but ton may be attached may comprise cloth, leather, rubber or similar material folded upon itself or not folded.

The tool E illustrated in Figure 6 is provided for assisting in coupling and uncoupling the several parts of the means C as well as punching the necessary holes in the material D to accommodate the shanks. It includes a tapered shank portion terminating at one-end in a point 61 and provided at its opposite end with a pair of resilient legs 62 normally spaced apart a distance suflicient so that their extremities 63 may be easily inserted into the slots 3% and sockets 15 for the purpose of assisting in rotating the screw threaded washer 33 andthe base plate 26. The pointed and tapering shank 60 may be employed by the user to punch the holes in the material to accommodate the shanks of the several coupling means provided.

In coupling the button member B to the material D, after the hole mentioned has been punched in the material, the shank member 50 withthe crook end or portion 53 foremost is inserted into the opening 30 and slot 31 of the base plate and the crook end then.

inserted in the'eye 22. of the shank 21 of the The screw threaded washer.

button member. 33 is now rotated by means of the tool E along the screwthreade'd shank of the shank.

member until 'thecurved portion of the shank 21 is in the groove 32 and the extremity of the crook portion 53 is within the slot as shown in Figure 1. The shank is now inserted into the hole formed in the material and into the hole in the washer 36, the skirt portion of which may or may not have been pressed about the convex surface of the base plate proper 35. The latter is then rotated onthe shank 51 by means of the tool and sockets 45 until it has pressed the washer tight against the material. The skirt may then be pressed over theconvex surface of the base plate proper. In removing the separable button, as for instance, in pressing the garment to which it is attached, replacing the button member with one of a different I design or the like, or removing the separable button from a discarded garment, the base member 26 is rotated oil the shank 51 and the shank withdrawn from the material. The button proper can .be removed, asis apparent, by rotating the Washer 33 off t e shank 51 and moving the confining crook ortion away from the base plate 26 until the button proper can be removed.

As for the separable button F disclosed in Figures 7 to 10 inclusive, the same includes a button member G and a coupling means H for securing the button member to a portion of material D.

Theseparable buttons F. may be such as are afiixed to uniforms as utilitarian buttons, as decorations or trimmings, as buttons on sleeves, lapels and collars. This button, when serving merely as a trimming or to denote rank or the like will not swing about on a pivot (as is. generally desirable in buttons used primarily for but toning, but not generally desirable in bottons .onthe lapel, collar or sleeve). 7

The button member G includes a head or button proper which maybe shaped like the button proper 20 but is provided with a straight shank 71. circular in cross section, which has a lurality of recesses 72 in its peripheral sur ace, similar to those formed by conventional screw threads. This shank is provided with a radially extending groove 73 throughout its length.

As for thecoupling means H, this includes a pair of axially aligning outer and inner base plates 75 and 76. The outer base plate 75 is next to or adjacent the under side of thehead 70 and its outer surface 77 is preferably convex while the o posite or material facing surface 78 is pre erably flat and its edge defines a circle. A groove or way 79 ex- .tends from adjacent this edge towards the axis of the plate where it joins an axially this opening the roove 19. *Preferably at the edge of the surface 78 positioned screw threaded opening 86 through the plate. A groove or way 81 extends along as shown in Figure 7 and joins depends a prong 82 adapted to sink into the material to which the separable button is secured. I

The opposite or inner base plate 7 6' is similar inevery detail to the base late 26 and the parts thereof have been num red tocorres 0nd to similar parts of the base (plate 26.

n L-shap'ed anchor 85 is provide in conjunctionwith the shank 71,'and forming an offset portion thereof, with its longer legv 86 disposed in the groove or way 73 and the shorter leg 87 in'the groove or way-79. Prefis punched in the material D, the base plate 75 is rotated upon the shank 71 until the grooves 73 and 79 align and the base plate has taken a position on the shank suflicient to permit the insertion of the longer leg of the anchor into the groove 75 and the shorter leg into 100 the groove 79, with the shorter leg flush with the surface 78 as shown in Figure 7. The

shank is then inserted into the material and the base plate 78 is threaded upon the shank as heretoforebrought out with respect to the base plate 26. Both of the prongs will then be firmly inserted in the material.

Now as to the separable button J disclosed in Figures 11 to 18, this includes a button member K and couplingmeans L for securing the button member to a portion of the ma terial D.

The separable button J may'besuch as is attached to uniforms and the like and per-' mits the button member to swivel so, that it may be more easily manipulated in buttoning and unbuttoning.

The button member K is similar to the button member B and similar reference characters designate corresponding parts to both K,

and B. v

With respect to the coupling means L, the same includes a pair of axially aligning outer and inner base plates 95 and 96. The outer base plate 95 is similar to the outer base plate 25 except that it is preferred that no recess,

similar to the recess 29 be provided, and similar reference characters will be used to designate corresponding parts of both base plates 95 and 25. In other words, the two. 130

base plates are the same except that the material facing surface 28 of the base plate95 is portion 97 provided with an axial opening 98, a comparatively deep recess .99 in the outer face 100 of the base plate, having a cam surface 101 at the base of the recess, and a shallow recess 102 extending from the recess 100 towards the edge of the body portion. This shallow recess :has one preferably inwardly beveled side wall 103 and one preferably inwardly curved opposite side wall 104 both walls terminating in facing flanges 105 and 106 level with the face 100. From the outer edge of the recess 102 the body portion is notched or grooved to its outer edge as at 107 to provide a space for the insertion of the tip of the finger or of-the thumb as shown in Figure 12. At opposite sides of the recess 99 the material forming the body portion is removed as by slitting the material as shown at 108 in Figures 12 and 13 forming tongues which are bent outwardly and material removed to form bearings 109. A preferably polygonal pivot pin 110 having cylindrical ends 111 is inserted into the recess, bridging it, with the ends 111 in the bearings 109 whereupon the tongues mentioned are depressed level with the face 100 holding the ends 111 in the bearings but allowing some slight play, so that the pivot pin may be slightly tilted.

A lever 112 shown in Figure 17 as a blank, may be suitably secured to the pivot pin as by bending its arms 113 about the pivot pin with the free end 114 of the lever projecting towards the edge of the body portion and terminating in a finger grip 115. From Figure 15 it will be seen that this lever end 114 can be accommodated between the two side walls 103 and 104 and under the flanges 105 and 106 and Figure 12 illustrates how, by canting the lever and associated structure,

. this can be done, since one edge of the lever will slide down the beveled surface and permit the opposite edge to be snapped into place below the flange 106.

Projecting 'from the opposite side of the pivot pin 110 and in the opposite direction from the lever is a tongue or detent 116, a blank of which is shown in Figure 18. This tongue is provided with projections 117 for the purpose of securing it loosely to the pivot pin which is provided with sockets 119 to receive these projections. These sockets have one straight wall and one inclined wall 120 as shown in Figures 11 and 14. The tongue 116 above or beyond the projections 117 is provided with a shallow socket12l while its free end is concaved as at 122. The surface .101 is indented by a shallow socket 123 and into these sockets 121 and 123 is inserted the opposite end of a leaf spring 124 which normally urges the detent 116 toward the opening 98 and the projections 117 away from the inclined Wall 120 of the sockets 119 as well as retains the projections in the sockets.

A shank member 130 preferably shaped like an inverted J is provided, with its shank portion 131 having a plurality of spaced apart recesses 132 provided between adjacent spaced apart flanges 133 with inwardly beveled faces as shown at 134. This shank is adapted to detachably carry the two base plates 95 and 96. The crook or offset portion 135 of the shank member may be slightly reduced in circumference over the shank portion 131. This crook portion is accommodated within the opening 30 and slot 31 so that a hook may be formed, shown in Figure 11. hen the crook portion 135 is inserted into theeye 21 of the shank and the latter drawn towards the base plate 95 until the curved portion of the shank 20 fits into the grooves in the base plate 95 similar to the grooves 32, the button member K cannot be come detached from the coupling means L. The end of the crook or offset portion 135 is pointed as at 136and since there is no washer in the way, :this point sinks into the material D and prevents rotation of the several parts. The coupling means L may be of any approved material such as bronze, cop-per, steel or the like.

In attaching the separable button K to the material D, after the necessary hole is punched in the material D. the shank member is inserted, crook end foremost, into the opening and slot or way 31, the crook end inserted in theeye of the button member, am the shank member 130 and then drawn in the opposite direction so that the curved portion of the shank of the button member will enter the grooves mentioned and the pointed end of the shank member will enter the material when the shank portion 130 is inserted in the material and the outer base plate pressed against the material. The inner base plate is now secured to the shank portion 131 and since the walls 120 of the sockets 119 are inclined, the tongue or detent 116 may rock, and permit its free concaved end to slide up the beveled faces of the flanges 133. hen the inner base plate is tight against the material, the tongue will be in one of the several recesses 132 urged there by the spring 124 and held there by the lever, the end of which is detachably carried under the flanges 105 and 106.

In removing the separable button last described, the lever 112 is canted and slipped out from under the flanges 105 and 106 thus releasing the detent or tongue from the recess in which itis projected, the tongue riding over the cam surface, and the base plate 96 may then be removed. The shank member 130 is then slipped from the base plate 95 and the button member may be removed.

Changes in detail may be made to the forms of invention herein shown and described,

in a face thereof, a shank carrying said but- I ton member and extending into the openings in the base plates, said shank provided with an offset portion projectin into said way, and means detachably securlng said shank to one of said base plates. 1

2. In a separable button, a button member, a pair of base plates, each of said base plates having a substantially axially extending opening, one of said base plates provided with a projection extending radially into said opening therein and the other base plate having a way extending radially from said opening, 7

and a shank carrying said button member and extending into said opening, said shank provided with a plurality of radially extending recesses in its peripheral face, any selected frecess receiving said projection,said shank also provided with an offset portion extending into said way.

i 3. In a separable button, a button member; an outer base plate having-a face facing saidbutton member; an inner base plate comprisinga main body portionhaving a face confronting the material to which said separable button is attached and also provided with an annular-flange projecting from said face and a washer surroundingand' in com tact with said flange, having a face pressed into the materialto which said separable button is attached, said washer also provided with a skirt portion extending. over the opposite'face of said last mentioned plate and in contact therewith, both of said base plates provided with axially extending openings therethrough; a shank carrying said button member and extending into the openings in said base plates, means detachably securing said shank "to one of said baseplates and means detachably securing the shank tothe other of said base plates.

4. In a swivelled separable button, a button member provided with an eye portion; an outer base. late having aface facing said button mem er and provided with an axially extending opening and a slot communicating therewith; an inner base plate facing the outer base plate provided with an axially extending opening; a J-shaped shank member having ashank' portion disposed in said openings' and a hook portion disposed through said eye portion and the free end of the hook portion in said slot; means detachably securing said shank to one of said base plates;

- and. means detachably securing the shank to the otherof said base plates. 1

* 5.'In a swivelled separable button, abuttonmember provided with aneye portion; and outer base plate having a face facing said button memberand provided with an axially extending opening and a slot communicating therewith and with. grooves in said face extending from either side of said slot toward the periphery of the base plate; an inner base plate facing the outer base plate and provided with an axiall extending opening; a J-shaped shankmeml ier having its shank portion, disposed in said openings; its hook portion disposedthrough said eye portion and terminating in said slot with the free end 1 of said eye portion lying in said grooves,

means detachablysecuring said shank to one of said base'plates and means detachably securing the shank to the other of said base plates. I

6; In a swivelled separable button, a button member provided with an eye portion; a base plate having a face facing said button member and provided with an axially extending opening and a radially extending slot communicating therewith, and also provided with an annular recess in the opposite face thereof; a washer in said recess, said washer having a screw threaded opening aligning with the first mentioned opening; a second base plate facing said first mentioned base plate, provided'with an axially extending screw threaded opening, and a J- shaped shank member having a shank portion screw threaded and in engagement with therscrew threaded opening of said washer and the second mentioned base plate and a hook portion through said eye portion with the free end of the hook portion in said slot.

7. In a swivelled separable button, a button member provided with an eye portion, an outer base plate having a face facing'said button member and provided with an axially extending opening and a slot communicating therewith and also provided with-an annular recess in the opposite face; a washer disposed in said recess, said washer having a screw threaded opening aligning with the first mentioned opening; an inner base plate including a body member having a face facin said first mentioned baseplate provided wit a screw threaded axially extending opening therethrough and an annular flange extending from said face about said opening and a washer about said flange provided with a depending skirt portion extending over the outer face of said second body member; and a: screw threaded J-shaped shank member carrying said base plates having its shank. portion in screw threaded engagement with the screw threaded opening in said first mentioned washer and the screw threaded opening insaid second mentioned baseplate and its hook portion through said eye portion with the free extremity thereof in said slot. 8. In a swivelled separable button, a button member provided with an eye portion; an

outer base plate having a face facing said button member and provided with an axially extending opening and a slot communicating therewith and also provided with an annular recess in the opposite face; a washer disposed 1 depending skirt portion extending over the outer face of said body member, with the free ends of said skirt portion short of the central portion of said face; and a screw threaded J- shaped shank member carrying said base plates having its shank portion in screw threaded engagement with the screw threaded opening in said first mentioned washer and the screw threaded opening in said second mentioned base plate and its hook .portion through said eye portion with the free extremity thereof in said slot; said outer face ofthe body member provided with recesses extending into the base plate whereby a tool may be inserted in said recesses to rotate the last mentioned base plate upon the screw threads of said shank.

9', In a separable button, a button member provided with an elongate substantially straight screw threaded shank, said shank having a radially extending longitudinal groove, a pair of opposed base plates detachably secured to said shank, said base plates provided with aligning axially extending screw threaded openings receiving said shank, and one of said base plates provided with a groove extending along its screw threaded opening, and with a radially extending groove in its face, said radially extending groove extending to said first mentioned groove, and an L-shaped anchor disposed in said grooves.

' 10. In a separable button, a button member provided with a substantially straight screw threaded shank, said shank having a radially extending longitudinal groove, a pair of opposed base plates detachably secured to said shank, said base plates provided with aligning axially extending screw threaded openings receiving said shank, and one of said base plates provided with a groove extending along its screw threaded opening, andwith a radial groove in its face, said last mentioned groove extending to said first mentioned groove, and an L-shaped anchor provided with a prong depending from a shorter leg thereof, with the longer leg of said anchor disposed in said other groove, and said prong projecting towards the opposed base plate.

11. In a separable button, a button member provided with a screw threaded shank, said shank having a radially extending groove throughout its length, an outer base plate detachably secured to said shank and provided with a prong depending from the base there of, an inner base plate detachably secured to said shank confronting said first mentioned base plate, both of said base plates provided with aligning axially extending screw threaded openings receiving said shank and one of said base plates provided with a groove extending along its screw threaded opening, and with a radially extending groove in the base thereof, said last mentioned groove leading to the other groove and an L-shaped anchor provided with a prong depending from the shorter leg, with the longer leg of said anchor disposed in said first named groove and the shorter leg disposed in said other groove, and said prongs projecting towards the confronting base plate.

12. In a swivelled separable button, a button member provided with an eye portion, an outer base plate having a face facing said button member and provided with an axially extending opening and a slot communicating therewith, an inner base plate facing the outer base plate and provided with an axially extending opening, a J-shaped shank member having its shank portion disposed in said opening'and its crook portion through said eye portion and the free end of the crook portion in said slot, said free end having a pointed extremity extending below the base of the first mentioned base plate; and means detachably securing the inner base plate to to the shank.

13. In a separable button, a button mem her, a shank secured thereto, said shank provided with a pair of spaced apart peripheral flanges, and a base plate provided with an axially extending opening accommodating said shank and with a recess communicating therewith, said recess having a cam surface, said base plate alsovprovided with a retractable tongue normally extending into the space between said pair of flanges and into said recess, detachably securing said base plate to said shank and movable over said cam surface when retracted.

14. In a separable button, a button member, a shank secured thereto, said shank provided with a pair of spaced apart peripheral flanges, and a base plate provided with an axial opening accommodating said shank and also provided with a recess having a cam surface extending to said opening and a flanged portion, said base plate also provided with a pivot pin in said recess having a socket carrying an L-shaped detent normally disposed between said flanges with a leg of said detent loosely accommodated in said recess and a manipulating lever o-peratively connected to said detent and held against leverage in said flanged portion of said base plate, whereby the free end of said detent will travel over said cam surface upon retraction of said detent by said lever.

15. In a separable button, a button member, a shank secured thereto, said shank pro vided with a plurality of spaced apart peripheral flanges having beveled faces, and a base plate provided with an axially extending opening accommodating said shank and having a recess extending to said opening, a portion of said. recess being flanged and said base plate also provided with a pivot pin pivoted in said recess having a V-shaped socket With a substantially L-shaped detent accommodated in said recess and loosely secured to said pivot pin by a leg of said detent in said socket, the free end of said detent adapted to slide up said beveled faces, said base plate also provided with a manipulating lever operatively connected to said detent and normally held against leverage in said flanged portion of said recess.

HYMEN GOLDBERG. HARRY GOLDBERG. 

